The Washington Times distorted a series of quotes in a news story published Wednesday on Democratic criticism of President Bush. This practice echoes its highly deceptive usage of quotations in reporting about a speech former President Bill Clinton gave at Georgetown in 2001 and coverage of a supposed National Education Association lesson plan for teaching about Sept. 11, both of which spawned media myths.

James G. Lakely's story, "Bush foes extend bounds of rhetoric," claims that "many observers say the level of invective lobbed at President Bush has escalated to a new and dangerous level." But many of these "dangerous" quotations have been ripped out of context by Lakely and portrayed in incredibly misleading ways.

For instance, he claims Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, attacked "Mr. Bush as a man who 'didn't learn the lessons of our generation in Vietnam' and is 'putting our troops at greater risk.'" The second quote, however, was far more innocuous. Kerry actually said, "I believe I can lead us out of Iraq effectively by accomplishing goals we need to accomplish but without putting our troops at greater risk." This phrasing is hardly the direct attack on Bush that Lakely purports to describe.

The reporter later claims that former Vice President Al Gore accused Bush "of having 'betrayed' his country, of being guilty of 'war crimes,' and setting up an 'American gulag' in Iraq" during a speech sponsored by MoveOn.org PAC last week. But Gore's first statement was far more indirect - he said "I want to speak on behalf of those Americans who feel that President Bush has betrayed our nation's trust." Betraying people's trust is very different from betraying "his country," phrasing which comes close to an accusation of treason.

Gore's discussion of war crimes was also far more carefully phrased:

The abhorrent acts in the prison were a direct consequence of the culture of impunity encouraged, authorized and instituted by Bush and Rumsfeld in their statements that the Geneva Conventions did not apply. The apparent war crimes that took place were the logical, inevitable outcome of policies and statements from the administration.
The former Vice President clearly held the administration responsible for the mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib Prison outside Baghdad, but he did not say Bush himself was "guilty" of "war crimes" in a legal sense. Gore called them "apparent war crimes" and later reserved judgment as to the guilt of the prison guards who have been charged.

Finally, Lakely quotes House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as having "called the war in Iraq 'unwinnable'" in the past month. Pelosi actually said "There is a consensus that under the present plan the war is unwinnable ... and that it will not be possible to prevail until there are more troops on the ground.'' (ellipsis in original) Pelosi said the war is "unwinnable" in the absence of policy changes -- she did not say that it cannot be won under any circumstances. Indeed, when asked during a May 20 press conference about earlier comments along the same lines by Rep. John Murtha, D-PA, she said "It's not unwinnable with a better plan. And it certainly could have been won sooner with a better plan." (Murtha's comments were taken out of context in the same way as Pelosi's by conservative critics.)

The Washington Times staff should start acting more like reporters and less like quote doctors.

Update 6/5 8:56 AM EST: Several readers have pointed out that Gore did say that Bush "betrayed this country" in a February 2004 speech to Tennessee Democrats. However, Lakely was referring specifically to Gore's MoveOn.org PAC speech:

Former Vice President Al Gore, in a speech last week before the liberal activist group MoveOn.org, went further, accusing Mr. Bush of having "betrayed" his country, of being guilty of "war crimes," and setting up an "American gulag" in Iraq.
The post above has been updated to make this point clear.

Correction 6/9 4:04 PM EST: This post has been edited to specify the correct date of Lakely's article - June 2. We regret the error.

Originally posted by brneyedgrl80 And Republicans say that Democrats only do this....

Washington Times quote-butchering continues (6/4)
By Brendan Nyhan

The Washington Times distorted a series of quotes in a news story published Wednesday on Democratic criticism of President Bush. This practice echoes its highly deceptive usage of quotations in reporting about a speech former President Bill Clinton gave at Georgetown in 2001 and coverage of a supposed National Education Association lesson plan for teaching about Sept. 11, both of which spawned media myths.

James G. Lakely's story, "Bush foes extend bounds of rhetoric," claims that "many observers say the level of invective lobbed at President Bush has escalated to a new and dangerous level." But many of these "dangerous" quotations have been ripped out of context by Lakely and portrayed in incredibly misleading ways.

For instance, he claims Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, attacked "Mr. Bush as a man who 'didn't learn the lessons of our generation in Vietnam' and is 'putting our troops at greater risk.'" The second quote, however, was far more innocuous. Kerry actually said, "I believe I can lead us out of Iraq effectively by accomplishing goals we need to accomplish but without putting our troops at greater risk." This phrasing is hardly the direct attack on Bush that Lakely purports to describe.

Click to expand...

But it is an attack. It definitely implies bushes plan WOULD put troops at greater risk.

The reporter later claims that former Vice President Al Gore accused Bush "of having 'betrayed' his country, of being guilty of 'war crimes,' and setting up an 'American gulag' in Iraq" during a speech sponsored by MoveOn.org PAC last week. But Gore's first statement was far more indirect - he said "I want to speak on behalf of those Americans who feel that President Bush has betrayed our nation's trust." Betraying people's trust is very different from betraying "his country," phrasing which comes close to an accusation of treason.

Click to expand...

We all heard the quote over over said as a single declarative. "he betrayed our country" "He played on our fears" Strike two for you, brownie.

Gore's discussion of war crimes was also far more carefully phrased:

The abhorrent acts in the prison were a direct consequence of the culture of impunity encouraged, authorized and instituted by Bush and Rumsfeld in their statements that the Geneva Conventions did not apply. The apparent war crimes that took place were the logical, inevitable outcome of policies and statements from the administration.
The former Vice President clearly held the administration responsible for the mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib Prison outside Baghdad, but he did not say Bush himself was "guilty" of "war crimes" in a legal sense. Gore called them "apparent war crimes" and later reserved judgment as to the guilt of the prison guards who have been charged.

Click to expand...

You're wiggling around pathetically.

Finally, Lakely quotes House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as having "called the war in Iraq 'unwinnable'" in the past month. Pelosi actually said "There is a consensus that under the present plan the war is unwinnable ... and that it will not be possible to prevail until there are more troops on the ground.'' (ellipsis in original) Pelosi said the war is "unwinnable" in the absence of policy changes -- she did not say that it cannot be won under any circumstances.

Click to expand...

She still said it. and it shows the extreme negativity on the left. That's the point.
Wiggle wiggle.

Indeed, when asked during a May 20 press conference about earlier comments along the same lines by Rep. John Murtha, D-PA, she said "It's not unwinnable with a better plan. And it certainly could have been won sooner with a better plan." (Murtha's comments were taken out of context in the same way as Pelosi's by conservative critics.)

The Washington Times staff should start acting more like reporters and less like quote doctors.

Update 6/5 8:56 AM EST: Several readers have pointed out that Gore did say that Bush "betrayed this country" in a February 2004 speech to Tennessee Democrats. However, Lakely was referring specifically to Gore's MoveOn.org PAC speech:

Click to expand...

No one cares about WHICH speech. His sentiment remains the same.

Former Vice President Al Gore, in a speech last week before the liberal activist group MoveOn.org, went further, accusing Mr. Bush of having "betrayed" his country, of being guilty of "war crimes," and setting up an "American gulag" in Iraq.
The post above has been updated to make this point clear.

Correction 6/9 4:04 PM EST: This post has been edited to specify the correct date of Lakely's article - June 2. We regret the error.

These misquotes as you call them don't even approach 1% of the intellectual fraudery the left engages in. They deny the whole reality of the entire eighties. Tax cuts worked. They grew the economy, and allowed us to outspend the soviets on defense, which is how we won the cold war. Be honest about that for once, libs, and then we'll take your misquote allegations seriously.

Originally posted by acludem The Washington Times is nothing but a right-wing propaganda rag. Trying to get them to be accurate is about as likely as getting George Bush to properly use a word with more than three syllables.

" The Washington Times is nothing more than a right-wing propoganda rag."

That's one way of putting it. " An outpost of sanity in a business that abandoned rationality long ago" is another. " An oasis of truth in an otherwise barren desert of political correctness and unrelenting deception" is another still.

brneyedgrl80:

" It's obviously clear that both sides do it, that's all."

leojoeyjoe:

" where I come from they call this kind of thing....POLITICS!!!! "

Ah, but now we arrive at the essence of the problem. Liberals understand that a forthright, unadulterated discussion of their true agenda would repel most Americans. Liberal socialism would be consigned to the ash-heap of history, where it belongs. Therefore, lies, spin, and sleight of hand are the coin of the realm - the only language they can speak ( Liberals still don't get Ronald Reagan. It is inconceivable to them that a man could speak openly and honestly to the American people. The only way they can explain his success is to grudgingly concede that he was a more adept liar than they. Otherwise, the circuitry in their brains would spontaneously combust).

If the liberals can uncover one grain - one sliver - of impropriety - or even the APPEARANCE of inpropriety - on the part of conservatives, they howl like wild dogs. If they can dilute our understanding and common sense with weak shit like, " Oh, well - both sides do it", or, "It's just politics", they score another win. They live to lie another day.

As rtwngAvngr said, " These misquotes as you call them don't even approach 1% of the intellectual fraudery the left engages in." But, of course, when liberals control the vast majority of (dis) information, that doesn't matter. Perception is everything.

You're right....absolutely...we see all this feigned outrage on t.v. everyday...it's disingenious...truth is relative to the liberal and facts are irrelevant...its like Homer Simpson said: "facts are useless...they can be used to prove anything..."

Absolutely. It's " situation ethics " as a blueprint for living. Robert Byrd and Strom Thurmond probably got their white hoods done at the same laundry, but it's perfectly OK for Senator Dodd to heap praise upon Byrd - Byrd's a good Democrat!

Meanwhile, Trent Lott just scratches his head and wonders, " WTF ?" Ah, the selective outrage of liberals.

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